Rituxan Cause of Brain Disorder Death, FDA says
Posted by
Amanda SchlagerSeptember 19, 2008 1:00 AMThe Food and Drug Administration recently reported that the pharmaceutical drug Rituxan was the cause of a brain disorder death. The female victim passed away just 18 months after consuming her last dose of the drug. The diagnosis was a result of a safety clinical extension study conducted by MedWatch, an adverse events reporting system of the FDA.
The drug Rituxan, marketed by leading U.S. biotechnology companies Genentech and Biogen Idec, is a unique treatment for arthritis. Rituxan has also been used to treat certain cases of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
On December 18, 2006 the FDA released a safety alert for Rituxan following the death of two patients using the drug to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The cause of death in both patients was a viral infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), in the brain. For the complete FDA safety alert click here.
Cases of this viral infection in the past have been reported in instances in which patients used Rixan for unapproved uses such as treatment for lupus and blood cancer.
It is estimated that over 10,000 patients have been treated with Rituxan. However, this is the first fatality case in which a patient has taken Rituxan for rheumatoid arthritis.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of taking Rituxan, consider contacting an attorney to preserve your rights. Pharmaceutical liability cases require experience and familiarity with the medical and legal issues involved.